Concentrator or sluice box



March 23 1926.

F. S. MORGAN CONCENTRATOR 0R SLUICE BOX Fil 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 w RE 00 mm a M N m F Q Qv Chi g ATTORNEY March 23 1926.-

' F. S. MORGAN CONCENYTRATOR OR SLUICE BOX 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7, 1923 INVENTOR 569/7? 5 $10M ATTORN Y March 23 1926.

1,577,926 F. S. MORGAN I couczumuog OR SLUIGE BOX Filed Jan. 1 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

I l 5 4 9 w v 3 6 7 2 M 2 z 3 3 C 3 Ix I T- I ll: lw'lbiwli ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES FRANK S. MORGAN, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

GONCENTRATOR OR SLUICE BOX.

Application filed January 1'7, 1923. Serial No. 613,188.

' tors or Sluice Boxes, of which the followmetal to settle.

ing is a specification.

My invention is an improved concentrator or sluice box. The object of my invention is to provide a concentrator or sluice box in which any substance, of higher specific gravity, can be separated from the matrix.

Metals in suspension in an aqueous pulp are partially carried by air bubbles on the surface ofthe pulp. Another object of myinvention isto provide a means for i breaking up these air bubbles and allowing-the A still further object of my-invention is to provide a sluice box with suitable depressions in which the pulp and values are 1110- mentarily stopped totallow the values to deposit inv the depressions.

In the drawing in which my invention is illustrated, I have shown the preferred form,

but it may be embodied in other forms and in this specification and appended claims I I wish to cover my invention in whatever form it may be embodied.

Referrlng to the drawings; Figure 1 1s a side elevation of my concentrator or sluice box;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the agitator pins and trap cover supports.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a base member to which are secureda plurality of vertical posts 2. An inclined trough 3 is mounted between the posts 2 and is supported on roller segment pairs 4 and 5 at the front and rear respectively. The segment pairs 4 and 5 are secured to shafts 6 and 7 respec tively, which shafts are journaled in bearings 8 and 9 respectively on the trough 3.

A shaft 10 which is driven by any suitable means is journaled in bearings 11 on the posts 2. An eccentric 12 is mounted on the shaft 10, and a connecting rod 13 secured to the eccentric reciprocates an arm 14. The connecting rod 13 can be adjusted on the arm 14 in holes 14 to vary the stroke of said arm and thus vary the amount of rocking in theshaft 15. The shaft 15 to which the arm 14 is secured is journaled in bearings 16 on the posts 2 forwardly of the shaft 10, and is rocked by the arm 14. A second arm 17 is secured to the shaft- 15, and a link 18 is pivoted to the arm 17 and to v a lug 19 depending; fromthe trough 3, there.

by transmitting the motion of the shaft to the trough. The segments 4 and 5 rock on supports 20 and 21 respectively, which are secured to the uprights 2.

In the floor of thetrough 3 are formed a pluralitylof depressions or traps 22 through which the pulp and values flow. The forward walls'ofthe traps are inclined rearwardly as at 23 to form an eddy and hold the pulp in said trap fora short space of time A plug 24 inthe bottom of the trap allows it to be flushed when desired. Each trap is positioned between a pair of posts 2. Brackets 25 are secured to the posts 2 and support a bar 26. which carries a cover plate 27 to cover the rear of the trap 22 Brackets 28 secured. to the posts 2 are secured to bars 29 which carry a flexible cover plate 30. The plate 30 is formed of any suitable flexible material andextends over the forward edge of the trap and rests upon the floor of the trough 3. The pulp in flowing through the trough 3 raises the plate 30 and ,flows under it. The pulp is momentarily stopped while raising' the plate 30 which allows the values to settle to the bottom. Also the values which are carried by.

air bubbles on the surface of the pulp strike the plate and break the bubbles. and the values settle to the bottom. A vertical deflector plate 31 is secured to the bar 26 and deflects the pulp downwardly into the traps 22. Italso projects above the bar and prevents the pulp from flowing over the trap.

Agitator fingers 32 are mounted in a head 33 and project into the traps 22. Guides 34 are secured to the head 33 and partially encircle the posts 2. Set'screws 35 in the guides 34 hold the head at any desired ieight on the posts 2.

A plurality of threaded rods 37 rise from the heads 33 and extend through guides 38, which guides are mounted on cross members 39 between the posts 2. Shafts 40 are journaled in bearings 41 which extend from the guide 88. A nut 42 through which the rod '37 extends is turned by a Wheel 43 on the shaft 40 and the shaft is rotated by a crank 1,577,926 PATENT-IOFFICE. 1

44. Thus as the crank 44 is operated the fingers 32 are raised or lowered as desired.

The pulp is fed into the trough through a pipe 46 and falls upon a rearwardly inclined baflie plate 47 which spreads it evenly over the trough.

Screens l8 may be placed on the floor of the trough between the depressions 22 to catch some of the fine values.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A concentrator or sluice box comprising a trough, substantially deep depressions in said trough, and a movable cover over each of said depressions and extending for a substantial distance over the floor of the trough. p

2. A concentrator or sluice box comprising a trough, means for rocking said trough, depressions in said trough, and flexible covers over said depressions.

3. A concentrator or sluice box comprising a trough, substantially deep depressions in said trough, a cover plate on the rear of each of said depressions and spaced from said trough, a second flexible plate over the forward part of each of said depressions, and resting on the trough,

4-. A concentrator or sluice box comprising a trough, depressions in said trough, and flexible covers over said depressions and extending for a substantial distance over the floor of the trough, and fingers extending into said depressions.

A concentrator or sluice box comprising a trough, depressions in said trough, flexible covers over said depressions and extending for a substantial distance over the floor of the trough, fingers extending into said depressions, and means for raising and lowering said fingers.

6. A concentrator comprising a substantially deep trough, depressions in said trough, the forward wall of each of said depressions being inclined rearwardly, and

a flexible cover positioned over each of said lying said depression and a substantial poition of the table, and adapted to contact with the surface of the pulp flowing over the table. v 9. A concentrator or sluice box comprising a trough, box shaped projections extending above the floor of said trough and forming depressions between the projections, a flexible cover plate extending forwardly and downwardly and resting on the projection, a cover plate extending rearwardly over the succeeding projection and spaced therefrom. V i

10. A concentrator or sluice box comprising a trough having box shaped projections on the floor thereof, Said projections being separated by depressions, movable covers being provided over said depressions, rakes extending into said depressions means whereby said rakes may be raised or lowered, said means including a fixed standard, a shaft 7 journaled thereon, a screw operatively connected with said rakes, a nut on said screw, a gear on'said shaft meshing with the nut and means whereby said shaft may be turned so as to actuate the rakes through the screw, nut and gear.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK S. MORGAN. 

